Is this my go-to source for factual information?

No. Research your own facts. These forums are primarily for discussion (not consensus). Furthermore, information in forum names and descriptions should not be construed as fact, either—although I do attempt to ensure the information is accurate. I'm sure many of the things you find here could be false or half-truths, or could be interpreted to be such. Users and administrators will probably make an effort to ensure they say true stuff, and create true content, but people aren't perfect. People may intend their words to be interpreted differently than you interpret them, too (so while what they meant could potentially be true, how you interpret it could be to be something false).

I require my users to have a certain amount of independence.

[HASH]QA